Re: hidden folders and files (XP sp2)

If any of the software you are using is not written for XP then you may get unpredictable results. It may work or may not. To make changes 'stick' you've got to be logged on using an account with appropriate privileges.

hidden folders and files (XP sp2)

I somehow have gotten into a funny situation. Many of my folders off the C: root have become 'hidden'. That is, some programs cannot see them and cannot use them (though others (i.e. explorer) can and treat them normally). The properties of the folder show the 'hidden' attribute as green, and that can be toggled off, but it doesn't stay off - it becomes hidden again.

The problem becomes that some programs cannot open data and graphics files via dialogues because they cannot see the files.

I think - *just think* for no good reason - that it is something I did with copying files using Norton File Manager (still my favorite file manager, despite Symantec taking it over and subsequently killing it). I use power desk pro and this sees the files correctly. Norton doesn't. There is a Microsoft utility for unhiding files, but it doesn't permanently work on these hidden folders.

Re: hidden folders and files (XP sp2)

You could try changing this using the Attrib command in a command window.

Start > Run > CMD to get a window
<code>
C:
CD
ATTRIB -sh *.*
</code>

The problem with this is that it will clear the System and Hidden attributes from all files in the folder, and some of these are supposed to be Hidden, so you may want to set the following files back to being Hidden+System (boot.ini, hiberfil.sys, IO.SYS, MSDOS.SYS, NTDETECT.COM, ntldr, pagefile.sys). You can do this with the command Attrib +sh

Re: hidden folders and files (XP sp2)

<hr>They come back as read-only each time!
<hr>

They indicate "read-only" with Windows Explorer or Norton File Manager or Powerdesk Pro or all of them? When you are trying to change attributes, are you (as <!profile=joeperez>joeperez<!/profile> noted in <!post=this post,559817>this post<!/post> ) attempting this from an account with administrative privileges?